Lexicon Stereo...Really?

[sczac]

Truth be told the Lexicon stero system is for sure the best stock car sterro system that I have had in a car for imaging and clarity. It's a darn good system, but I feel like I am missing something. On a scale from 1-10, I would be generous to give it an 8, and that is really pushing it. The stereo doesn't get very loud (mine goes as loud as a 35 setting), and the bass is not all that great for some of the music that I listen too. I hate to say it but I really feel the Lexicon in my car is way overrated, good.....but it cannot hold a candle to an aftermarket stereosystem.

I wanted to ask...I have a 2009 4.6 Tech, do i have the Lexicon 14 or 17 speaker system? Further, has anyone replaced some of the components in the Lexicon Stereosystem, I just bought some Infiniti kappa 6.5 component speakers for my other car that I am considering replacing the Lexicon speakers with, just wanted to get your thoughts. Yes the Lexicon is a good system is good, but in my opinion to call it great is a strech...

 

[homeofstone]

If you have the DIS knob behind the gear selector then you have the 17 speaker system. Have you gone into all the system settings to set up the Lexicon the way you want it?

 

[sczac]

I have...again, the sound quality is pretty good (not exceptional). The thing for me the stereo doesn't get very loud and the bass is not even that great for even an 8" subwoofer.....maybe my car is just a fluke, considering how favorably most of you folks are regarding the Lexicon audio system...

 

[krunchy]

I agree with your assessment. The system is quite good and quite possibly the best factory system out there which is one of the primary reasons why I have a 4.6. I have added a dual 12" MTX sub with a 500W amp to power it and this has provided the extra bass extensiona and punch that was missing. This has bumped the system from an 8 to an 8.5 or 9 in my opinion but it is still a bit lacking in the max volume levels. The only way you can get the system up past this level is to begin spending big money on a custom installation. Unfortunately this is out of my budget but the money I spent on the sub and amplifier was well worth it in my opinion.

 

[scottdk]

I have...again, the sound quality is pretty good (not exceptional). The thing for me the stereo doesn't get very loud and the bass is not even that great for even an 8" subwoofer.....maybe my car is just a fluke, considering how favorably most of you folks are regarding the Lexicon audio system...

OEM subwoofers' are not very good. More of a marketing gimmick and adds just a touch of bass. I run a 12" Kicker L5 in the Genesis. Sounds great now. What source are you using for your music, i.e. MP3, CD, XM?

 

[momuzik]

...The stereo doesn't get very loud (mine goes as loud as a 35 setting)...

I noticed this just last week. I maxed out the volume just to see what it can do. I was surprised that it didn't get that loud. It never "tickled" my ear drum; I didn't feel the vibration in my chest. It got loud but not uncomfortable.

 

[homeofstone]

I guess I am over the hill, but above about 30 on the volume in my Genesis is way too loud for me. I usually set the volume around 20 or less.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

I agree with the OP. I listen to a lot of classical, especially pipe organ music, and when I tested a 17-channel system it just never achieved great levels of volume and low end. One of the reasons why I went with a base 3.8.

 

[Richard Ft. Lauderdale]

Some where on the forum I learned that when you want more bass you press the "speak" button on the steering wheel and say "cancel". When I have done this the bass gets really loud and the rear window shade shakes. The moment you change the volume up or down after saying cancel the bass goes back to normal.

I would never turn the volume all the way up. My hearing is already shot. I don't need it to get worse.

 

[mitch14]

Everybody hears thing differently, and I don't think there are many if any stock stereos that are loud enough for people who like it loud.
I too have been into sound systems in the past, (1500watts RMS from a rockford amp pushing boston acoustic speakers and 2 12"jl w3 subs in a coupe, wiring redone and sound deadening) but I wouldn't change the genny because it would cost too much to replace all the speakers and add in a new amplifier or two, and if there is any kind of complication connecting it all up to the lexicon.
And I don't see how you're going to get a significant increase in sound by replacing just the speakers, as you are still going to be sending the same amount of power from the factory amp, through the factory wiring

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[ShadowScoobySTi]

Truth be told the Lexicon stero system is for sure the best stock car sterro system that I have had in a car for imaging and clarity. It's a darn good system, but I feel like I am missing something. On a scale from 1-10, I would be generous to give it an 8, and that is really pushing it. The stereo doesn't get very loud (mine goes as loud as a 35 setting), and the bass is not all that great for some of the music that I listen too. I hate to say it but I really feel the Lexicon in my car is way overrated, good.....but it cannot hold a candle to an aftermarket stereosystem.

I wanted to ask...I have a 2009 4.6 Tech, do i have the Lexicon 14 or 17 speaker system? Further, has anyone replaced some of the components in the Lexicon Stereosystem, I just bought some Infiniti kappa 6.5 component speakers for my other car that I am considering replacing the Lexicon speakers with, just wanted to get your thoughts. Yes the Lexicon is a good system is good, but in my opinion to call it great is a strech...

35 on the volume? Damn, I can't get past 22 before blowing my mids and lows out! Hell, with the volume on 7-8, I can bearly hear my wife conversing.

I have noticed the sound quality is alot sharper when listening to a CD or to Pandora (vua AUX). The sound from terrestrial stations simply suck.

I like the Lexicon as well, but Im considering replacing the tweeters to MB Quartz or Memphis Audio. And a conservative 10" subwoofer. I agree, the lows need improvement on this stereo.

 

[Mark_888]

I like the Lexicon as well, but Im considering replacing the tweeters to MB Quartz or Memphis Audio. And a conservative 10" subwoofer. I agree, the lows need improvement on this stereo.

If you replace any of the speakers, and if they have a different impedance than the OEM, then they will sound out of whack.

 

[hakwuzhere]

The Passatt I traded for the Rspec came stock with a Dynaudio system.. that was by far the best stock stereo I have ever heard... The Lexicon is good, but as said above, it doesnt get very loud... the clarity of audio is very good through, so I forgive it.

The system I had before the Dynaudio in the passat, was a 2.1ch Dynaudio components on a JL 400w amp and a JL1000/1 monoblock on a 12w7... in a BMW with full dynamat. That was a fun car!

 

[scottdk]

The Passatt I traded for the Rspec came stock with a Dynaudio system.. that was by far the best stock stereo I have ever heard... The Lexicon is good, but as said above, it doesnt get very loud... the clarity of audio is very good through, so I forgive it.

The system I had before the Dynaudio in the passat, was a 2.1ch Dynaudio components on a JL 400w amp and a JL1000/1 monoblock on a 12w7... in a BMW with full dynamat. That was a fun car!

Just curious about what is "loud" in your opinion. I haven't measured the decibels in any car but the Genesis, but mine with the Tech pack doesn't have a problem hitting 105 decibels while still undistorted.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Just curious about what is "loud" in your opinion. I haven't measured the decibels in any car but the Genesis, but mine with the Tech pack doesn't have a problem hitting 105 decibels while still undistorted.

My question exactly. How loud is loud? Till it rattles the back window and trunk and sounds like crap outside? Till it sets off all the car alarms as you drive down the street? Till it keeps the neighbors from hearing their TV in their house as you drive by? Till you have to wear ear plugs while you drive?

Maybe you've already damaged your hearing because of doing these things in the past and now nothing will be loud enough for you unless it's pushing 1.1 jigawatts.

For me, I think it's one of the best systems out there. It sounds great. It get's more than loud enough to drown me out when I'm singing. And it sounds nice and clear at a comfortable listning level. And I have some hearing loss from many years of riding ships.

So what's your definition of loud?

 

[Philth]

The Passatt I traded for the Rspec came stock with a Dynaudio system.. that was by far the best stock stereo I have ever heard... The Lexicon is good, but as said above, it doesnt get very loud... the clarity of audio is very good through, so I forgive it.

The system I had before the Dynaudio in the passat, was a 2.1ch Dynaudio components on a JL 400w amp and a JL1000/1 monoblock on a 12w7... in a BMW with full dynamat. That was a fun car!

The wife's '12 Jetta has Fender audio and it is DAMN good sounding. Not quite on par with the Lexicon in the Genesis, but a close second.

As far as the SQ of the Lexicon, it's all going to be subjective, as everybody has different listening preferences. To me, I believe the mids and highs are very well detailed. Of course, bass is lacking, but very few factory systems personally satisfied me in the bass department. An old room mate's Ford Mustang Shaker 1000 system was ridiculously loud in bass. I think it came with two 10" subs, or something around to that.

 

[hakwuzhere]

Just curious about what is "loud" in your opinion. I haven't measured the decibels in any car but the Genesis, but mine with the Tech pack doesn't have a problem hitting 105 decibels while still undistorted.

Its been a long time since Ive used a SPL meter, but I worked in the A/V industry doing system integration and design for almost 10 years so I have been around and put together some very expensive home audio systems.

My company at the time also did car audio and one of the bay managers was a big SPL guy... I never really got into that...

I guess my subjective view is that the system doesnt have the dynamic "punch" that I associate with a great audio system. I did toss my old Matrix DVD into the player though and the lobby scenes audio steer's through the system sounds excellent, better than many surround processors you buy in a surround receiver these days.

 

[Mark_888]

The Lexicon system was originally designed for the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (the only other car it has been installed in besides Genesis/Equus). I don't think people who drive a RR want to have a boom box in their trunk. That would not be "proper."

It has already been mentioned that an after market amp/subwoofer can be added, and there are quite a few posts on that subject in the is forum.

 

[waveman]

I guess I am over the hill, but above about 30 on the volume in my Genesis is way too loud for me. I usually set the volume around 20 or less.

I'm with you on that. With most program sources, 15 is fine for me. But then I'm bothered by some loud live music too.

 

[scottdk]

The Lexicon system was originally designed for the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (the only other car it has been installed in besides Genesis/Equus). I don't think people who drive a RR want to have a boom box in their trunk. That would not be "proper."

It has already been mentioned that an after market amp/subwoofer can be added, and there are quite a few posts on that subject in the is forum.

I think you're correct for the most part, but I know that Rolls is using one 10" subwoofer under each rear seat, which is a lot more woofer than what the Genesis or Equus has in it. I'm sure it bumps if desired, but many probably never will in a Rolls.